JP2023060312A - Each machine device, game system, and game machine detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience when using an enclosed-type game machine.

SOLUTION: An inter-machine card processing machine 10 restricts return of cards so as to prevent cards from being returned regardless of returning operation when a total of the number of own balls and the number of playable games is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold (a). After that, the card processing machine 10 performs a collection process of own balls and the number of playable games by canceling the restriction of return of cards when receiving collection operation from a game attendant (b). Concretely, when the number of playable games is not 0, the same performs notification for requesting counting and shifts all the number of playable games to own balls by counting. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 manages own balls as collected balls in a state in which the number of playable games is 0, and clears own balls. The collected balls are stored by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and are transmitted to a host device and are managed, thus permitting browsing and putout of collected balls.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a game machine, a game system, and a game machine detection method, which are installed in association with a game machine that performs a game using a game medium enclosed therein, and which performs processing related to the game medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, amusement arcades provide games through game media. For example, in a pachinko game, game balls are used as game media, and the game is played by hitting the game balls onto the game board surface. A plurality of prize-winning areas (award-winning openings) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined number of game balls are provided as prize balls based on the game balls passing through the prize-winning areas. In this way, the number of game media increases or decreases depending on the result of the game, and the player can exchange the obtained game media for prizes.

In order to facilitate the handling of acquired game media, each machine attached to the gaming machine is provided with a function of counting game media, and the counted number of game media is associated with a card as the number of game media. ing. By presenting this card at the prize counter, the player can exchange it for prizes according to the number of associated game media.

In addition, recently, problems with brought-in balls from other stores and brought-in balls between different lending rates have become apparent, and therefore, attention is being paid to closed-type gaming machines that do not generate such brought-in balls. Enclosed type gaming machines have a structure in which players do not touch game media, and the number of game media that can be shot (hereinafter referred to as the number of possible games) is managed as data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .).

In each machine attached to such an enclosed type game machine, the number of game media is transmitted to the game machine as data instead of being controlled so that the game medium itself or the game machine pays out the actual game medium. Become. Also, when the game ends, each machine acquires the number of possible games from the gaming machine and adds it to the number of game media possessed. The operation of each machine acquiring the number of playable games from the gaming machine and adding it to the game media possessed corresponds to the operation of counting the game media, and is henceforth referred to as a counting operation in this specification.

JP-A-2002-233635

However, in the conventional technology, when a player ends the game with the number of possible games left and the number of balls remaining, the processing of the remaining number of possible games and the number of balls held becomes a problem. In particular, if the number of balls in a player's possession is too small to be associated with a card, it is likely that the player will end the game leaving the remaining balls and the number of possible games. The problem is to reduce the burden on the game staff by collecting them, and to improve convenience when using enclosed-type game machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a machine device, a game system, and a game machine detection method that can improve convenience when using an enclosed game machine. for the purpose.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a game machine that is installed in association with a game machine that performs a game using a game medium enclosed therein, and that performs processing related to the game medium. a game medium number management means for managing the number of game media that can be re-used in the game only on the day the player has acquired the game medium, and a gaming machine in which the number of game media does not change for a predetermined time It is characterized by comprising detection means for detecting, and notification means for notifying a predetermined employee terminal of the response to the gaming machine detected by the detection means.

In addition, the present invention is a game system having a game machine for playing a game using a game medium enclosed therein, and each machine installed in association with the game machine for performing a process related to the game medium. A possible game number management means for managing the possible game number used in a game by a player, an acquisition means for acquiring the possible game number, and the possible game number acquired by the acquisition means does not change for a predetermined time. It is characterized by comprising detection means for detecting a game machine, and notification means for notifying a predetermined employee terminal of a response to the game machine detected by the detection means.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the display mode of the predetermined display section is changed depending on whether or not the number of possible games acquired by the acquisition means is present.

The present invention also provides a game machine detection method in each machine that is installed in association with a game machine that performs a game using a game medium enclosed therein and performs processing related to the game medium, the game machine detection method comprising: a possessed game medium number management step for managing the number of possessed game media that can be re-used in the game only during the day, which has been obtained by playing a game according to the above; and a notification step of notifying a predetermined employee terminal of the response to the gaming machine detected by the detection step.
Further, the present invention provides a game system having a game machine for playing a game using a game medium enclosed inside, and each machine installed in association with the game machine for performing a process related to the game medium. A gaming machine detection method comprising: a possible game number management step of managing a possible game number used in a game by a player; an acquisition step of acquiring said possible game number; and a possible game number acquired by said acquiring step and a notification step of notifying a predetermined employee terminal of the response to the gaming machine detected by the detecting step.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when using an enclosed game machine.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of each machine device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the game parlor. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine and the gaming machine. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the inter-machine card processing machine (No. 1). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the inter-machine card processing machine (No. 2). FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the card management device shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the card management device (No. 1). FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the card management device (No. 2). FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the inter-machine card processing machine for collected balls. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the inter-machine card processing machine for erasing balls. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of calling a game clerk. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of prize ball management of the gaming machine. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of how to deal with forgetting to count.

Preferred embodiments of each machine, gaming system, and gaming machine detection method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this specification, "balls in possession" refers to game media acquired by a player in a game or data indicating the number of such game media, which can be used again in the game only during the day (time before the store closes). Say what you can. Accumulated balls refer to game media acquired by a player in a game or data indicating the number of such game media, which can be used again in a game from the next day onwards (hours after the store closes). Possessed balls can be used by both general players and member players, and are used when the gaming machine used for the game is changed (so-called machine movement). The accumulated balls are normally usable only by the member players, and are used when the obtained game media are used in the game from the next day onwards. A predetermined fee may be charged for use of accumulated balls.

First, the concept of each machine device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of each machine device according to the present embodiment. A plurality of game machines 20 are installed in the game parlor, and each game machine 20 is provided with an inter-machine card processing machine 10 which is a device for each machine.

The gaming machine 20 is an enclosed gaming machine having a structure in which a player does not touch the game balls, which are game media, and manages the number of game balls that can be shot as the playable number. A large number of obstacle nails are planted on the game board surface of the game machine 20, and the game balls shot to the game board surface by operating the handle fall between the obstacle nails and enter the winning opening and the starting opening. Alternatively, it is discharged outside the game board surface from the out port of the game board surface without winning. The game balls ejected from the game board surface are conveyed inside the game machine 20 and used for shooting again.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 is a device for each machine that executes processing such as acceptance of deposit and lending of game balls. The lending of game balls is performed by adding the playable number of the game machine 20 instead of putting out the game balls in kind. Similarly, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 subtracts a predetermined number from the number of balls held and adds a predetermined number to the number of possible games when the player performs a replay operation of the balls held. Further, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can count the number of game balls by transferring the number of possible games managed by the gaming machine 20 to the owned balls managed by its own device.

When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the card return operation, it discharges the value such as the ball in association with the card, and clears the value such as the ball managed by its own device to play the value. return it to the customer. However, when the total number of balls held and the number of possible games is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the card return is restricted so that the card is not returned even if there is a return operation (a). By restricting card returns, it is possible to prevent the game parlor from losing money due to discarding cards associated with a small number of balls.

When receiving a collection operation from a game clerk, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 cancels the card return restriction and collects the balls held and the number of possible games (b). Specifically, if the number of possible games is not 0, a notification requesting counting is made, and all the number of possible games is transferred to the possessed balls according to the counting.

Then, when the playable number is 0, the owned balls are managed as collected balls, and the owned balls are cleared. It is desirable that the collected balls are stored in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and transmitted to a higher-level device for management so that the collected balls can be viewed and paid out. Further, the recovery operation by the store clerk may be reading of the recovery card, or may be accepted via the store clerk terminal device.

In this way, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 manages the value of the game balls, such as the number of balls held, based on the number of possible games, which is the number of gaming machine management media managed by the enclosed type gaming machine 20, and the value of the balls held. to limit the return of the value, and when a predetermined operation is received, the limitation is lifted and the value is collected. Therefore, by efficiently collecting the remaining balls and the number of possible games, the burden on the game clerk can be reduced, and convenience can be improved when using an enclosed game machine.

Next, the system configuration of the game parlor will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the game parlor. As shown in FIG. 2, the game parlor is provided with a plurality of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processors 10 provided corresponding to the respective gaming machines 20 . The inter-machine card processing machine 10 is connected via an island controller 30 to a communication line, which is a network within the store. An island controller 30, a card management device 40, a member management device 50, a prize management device 60, and a payment machine 80 are connected to the communication line.

The gaming machine 20 is a device for playing a game by hitting game balls enclosed inside the device onto a game board surface. A plurality of winning areas (award winning openings) are provided on the game board surface of the gaming machine 20, and a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls based on the game balls passing through the winning areas. It's becoming A predetermined number of starting areas (starting openings) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined lottery is conducted based on the passage of game balls through the starting areas. If the lottery results in a big hit, an operation that is advantageous in terms of the game is performed by operating a predetermined movable member, etc., such as improving the probability of the game ball passing through the winning area or another starting area. It should be noted that it is also possible to provide an area that serves as both the starting area and the winning area.

The winning area is provided with a winning sensor for detecting the passage of game balls into the winning area. It's becoming In addition, the control unit of the gaming machine 20 has a prize memory for storing the number of game balls to be awarded as prize balls for each prize area, and a playable number memory for indicating the number of balls that a player can throw out. there is

Therefore, when the winning sensor detects that the hit game balls have passed through the specific winning area, the gaming machine 20 determines from the stored contents of the winning ball memory and the number of game balls that have passed through the winning area. It is possible to determine the number of prize balls and perform payout processing for the determined number of prize balls.

In the enclosed type gaming machine 20, the process of paying out the number of prize balls is performed by adding the number of prize balls to the number of possible games stored in the memory for the number of possible games to update the stored contents. When the number of possible games is transferred as the number of balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the number of possible games held in the memory for the number of possible games is notified to the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the number of possible games is transferred. to zero. Further, when receiving notification from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 of addition of the number of possible games by a ball lending operation or the like, the notified number of balls is added to the number of possible games to update the stored contents.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts deposits, lends out game balls, communicates with the card management device 40 , and communicates with the gaming machine 20 . When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the banknotes inserted by the player, it transmits payment notification data including the amount of the banknotes to the card management device 40, and stores the amount in the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40. Add the number corresponding to When a predetermined ball lending operation is performed, a ball lending request is transmitted to the card management device 40, the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40 is subtracted, and the number of games corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value is played. Payout processing of balls is performed.

In the enclosed type game machine 20, the game ball payout process based on the ball lending is performed by notifying the game machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value and adding it to the number of possible games.

Further, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40 when the insertion of the card is accepted. Further, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives data including the prepaid value, the number of owned balls, and the number of accumulated balls from the card management device 40, it stores the received prepaid value, the number of owned balls, and the number of accumulated balls. After storing the number of balls held, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits the ball possession subtraction request data to the card management device 40, thereby setting the number of balls managed by the card management device 40 to zero. clear.

In addition, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the replay operation of the owned balls, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of owned balls stored in its own device, and pays out a number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted number of owned balls. conduct. Further, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives the stored ball replay operation, it transmits stored ball replay request data to the card management device 40, thereby subtracting a predetermined number from the number of stored balls managed by the member management device 50. Then, the payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted stored number of balls is performed. The game ball payout process based on the replay of the owned balls and the replay of the stored balls is also performed by notifying the gaming machine 20 of the corresponding number and adding it to the playable number.

Further, when receiving the card return operation, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits to the card management device 40 ball-in-hand addition request data including the number of balls-in-hand managed by itself, After adding the number, the card ejection notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40 to control card ejection.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 also has a function of acquiring a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 and authenticating the gaming machine 20 using the acquired gaming machine ID and the authentication key received from the card management device 40 . have. This authentication is performed at the time of the opening process or the like, and the gaming machine 20 is allowed to play on condition that the authentication is successful.

The island controller 30 is a relay device for bundling a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processing machines 10 provided on a game island.

The card management device 40 is a device that manages the prepaid value of the card, the number of balls held, etc. as card data. Upon receiving the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processor 10, the card management device 40 associates the card ID of the inserted card with the device ID of the inter-machine card processor 10 and manages the card ID. to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Further, when the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data is the card ID of the membership card, the card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data to the membership management device 50 and receives the card insertion notification data from the membership management device 50. The accumulated ball replay data is transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.例文帳に追加

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball-on-hand subtraction request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it clears the number of balls-on-hand to zero. Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball-in-hand addition request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the number of balls-in-hand included in the ball-in-hand addition request data is changed to the number of balls-in-hand managed by the card management device 40. to add.

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball lending request data from the inter-machine card processor 10, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID, and transfers the ball lending permission data to the inter-machine card processor 10. Send to When the accumulated ball replay request data is received, the accumulated ball replay request data is transmitted to the member management device 50, and when the member management device 50 outputs the accumulated ball replay data, the accumulated ball replay data is sent to the machine. Send to card processing machine 10 .

Further, when the card ID is received from the prize management device 60, the card management device 40 notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls associated with the card ID. Furthermore, when the card ID is received from the payment machine 80, the payment machine 80 is notified of the prepaid value associated with this card ID.

Also, the card management device 40 acquires the gaming machine ID from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and manages the gaming machines 20 installed in its own shop. Then, an authentication key for authenticating the game machine 20 set in the own store is acquired from an authentication key management center outside the game store, and distributed to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.例文帳に追加

The member management device 50 is a management device that manages member management data of members registered as members of the amusement arcade. Specifically, the number of stored balls, the number of points, the personal identification number, the name, etc. are managed in association with the membership card ID issued to the member.

When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 generates accumulated ball replay data including the number of accumulated balls and a password associated with the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data. It is transmitted to the interim card processing machine 10 . When the member management device 50 receives the accumulated ball replay request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined number from the number of accumulated balls associated with the card ID indicated in the accumulated ball replay request data, Collected ball replay data including the number of accumulated balls after subtraction is transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.例文帳に追加Communication between the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the member management device 50 is performed via the card management device 40 .

Further, when the member management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of stored balls from the prize management device 60, the member management device 50 notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of stored balls corresponding to the designated card ID.

The prize management device 60 is a prize exchange terminal installed at a prize exchange counter in the amusement arcade, and performs prize exchange processing for exchanging acquired balls, the number of stored balls, and the number of owned balls for prizes. A card reader for reading a card ID from a card and a prize payout device for paying out prizes are connected to the prize management device 60 . When the prize management device 60 reads a card ID from a general card or a membership card (or reads identification data corresponding to the card ID from a mobile terminal or the like), the prize management device 60 transmits the card ID to the card management device 40. to request the number of balls possessed by the card ID. When exchanging the number of accumulated balls for a prize, the number of accumulated balls is requested from the member management device 50 .

When the card associated with the prepaid value is inserted, the fare adjustment machine 80 transmits the card ID of this card to the card management device 40 and receives the response data to acquire the prepaid value associated with the card. and pays out money according to the acquired prepaid value.

Next, the ball lending process of the gaming system shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. When a player performs a ball lending operation to the inter-machine card processor 10, the inter-machine card processor 10 transmits ball lending request data to the card management device 40. - 特許庁This ball lending request data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and an address or arbitrary identification data for specifying the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender.

Upon receiving the ball lending request data, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID of the ball lending request data. Then, the card management device 40 transmits ball lending permission data to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 as the transmission source. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has received the ball lending permission data performs payout processing of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value.

Next, a description will be given of the ball replay process when the ball is replayed in the gaming system shown in FIG. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40 when the insertion of a general card or a membership card is accepted. This card insertion notification data consists of the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processor 10, the address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processor 10 that is the sender, and the inter-machine card processor. and data to specify the 10 rates.

When the card management device 40 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processor 10, the card management device 40 sends the inter-machine card processor 10 the number of balls at each rate associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data. Notice.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the number of balls received from the card management device 40 . Then, it transmits to the card management device 40 the card ID, the data specifying the rate, and the ball-on-hand subtraction request data indicating that the number of balls on hand is to be cleared to zero. Upon receiving the ball-on-hand subtraction request data, the card management device 40 clears the number of balls on each rate specified by the card ID to zero. Further, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the replay operation of the balls and replays the balls, the card processing machine 10 subtracts a predetermined number from the stored number of the balls and performs payout processing of the corresponding number of the game balls. . Here, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is permitted to replay the number of balls owned by using the number of balls owned other than the rate of the machine itself when there is a number of balls owned other than the rate of the machine itself. When the setting is made, according to the player's operation, the number of owned balls other than the rate of the own machine can be converted into the number of owned balls of the rate of the own machine and replay can be performed. Here, assuming that the unit price for one game medium at another rate is A and the unit price for the rate of the player's own machine is B, the X balls possessed at the other rate are subtracted to process X×(A/B) payouts. It can be performed.

When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives from the gaming machine 20 the management transfer request data for transferring the management by setting the number of playable games of the game machine 20 as the balls possessed by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the management transfer is performed. The number of possible games indicated in the request data is added to the number of balls possessed by the own device. After that, when the card return operation is accepted, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits ball possession addition request data to the card management device 40 . This ball-in-hand addition request data includes the card ID of the card to be returned, an address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and the number of balls in each rate. .

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits ball-in-hand addition request data to the card management device 40 when the card return operation is accepted. This ball-in-hand addition request data includes the card ID of the card to be returned, an address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and the number of balls in each rate. .

When receiving the ball-in-hand addition request data, the card management device 40 adds the number of balls-in-hand contained in the ball-in-hand addition request data to the number of balls-in-hand for each rate associated with the card ID. After that, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card ejection notification data to the card management device 40 .

Next, the stored ball replay processing in the gaming system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40 when the card ID is read from the member card or the mobile terminal that can be used as the member card. This card insertion notification data consists of the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processor 10, the address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processor 10 that is the sender, and the inter-machine card processor. and data to specify the 10 rates.

The card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 to the member management device 50 . When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data, the personal identification number associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data and the number of accumulated balls at the rate specified by the card insertion notification data. Then, stored ball replay data including the number of possible replays of stored balls is transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. - 特許庁The number of possible replays of accumulated balls indicates the number of times that accumulated balls can be replayed, and corresponds to the quotient obtained by dividing the number of accumulated balls by the number of payout units of game balls in the replay of accumulated balls. However, when an upper limit is set for replaying accumulated balls, the number of possible replays for accumulated balls is limited by this upper limit.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the received ball replay data, and makes it possible to accept the accumulated ball replay operation when the number of possible ball replays indicated in the accumulated ball replay data is 1 or more.

After storing the accumulated ball replay data, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 requests the player to enter a personal identification number when receiving the accumulated ball replay operation for the first time. It is determined whether or not it matches the personal identification number shown in .

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits accumulated ball replay request data to the card management device 40 when the personal identification numbers match. This stored ball replay request data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processor 10, the address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processor 10 that is the sender, and the inter-machine card processing data. data for specifying the rate of aircraft 10;

The card management device 40 transmits accumulated ball replay request data to the member management device 50 . Upon receiving the accumulated ball replay request data, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined value from the balance of the accumulated balls at the rate specified by the electronic message among the accumulated balls associated with the card ID in the accumulated ball replay request data. and recalculate the number of possible replays of accumulated balls. Then, stored ball replay data including the balance after the subtraction and the possible number of stored ball replays are transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 .

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 updates the number of stored balls to be stored, and performs payout processing for the number of game balls corresponding to the number of payout units for replaying the stored balls. Here, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is set to permit replaying of accumulated balls using the number of stored balls other than the rate of the own machine when there is a number of stored balls other than the rate of the own machine. In this case, the number of accumulated balls other than the rate of the own machine can be converted into the number of accumulated balls of the rate of the own machine according to the operation of the player, and the number of accumulated balls can be replayed, as in the case of replaying the balls held. can. In addition, after the payout process, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 determines whether or not the number of possible replays of stored balls after updating is one or more. If the number of possible replays of accumulated balls is 0, the operation of replaying accumulated balls is not accepted. If the number of possible replays of accumulated balls after updating is 1 or more, the operation of replaying accumulated balls can be accepted again. In the second and subsequent replays of the accumulated balls, confirmation of the personal identification number is unnecessary. In addition, you may make it confirm a personal identification number every time. Further, here, the case where the inter-machine card processing machine 10 performs the game ball payout process after the member management device 50 subtracts the balance of the accumulated balls has been exemplified, but the game ball payout process is performed based on the accumulated ball replay request. After doing so, the balance of the accumulated balls may be subtracted. This is because the stored ball replay data before the stored ball replay request indicates the possible number of stored ball replays, and the shortage of the balance will not be found after receiving the stored ball replay request.

Next, a description will be given of the transition from ball possession to ball storage in the closing process. The card management device 40 checks the number of balls in the card management data at the time of the closing process, and if there is a record associated with the number of balls greater than zero, the number of balls in the record is displayed together with the card ID and rate. The member management device 50 is notified. The member management device 50 adds the number of owned balls notified from the card management device 40 to the number of stored balls specified by the card ID and the rate. After that, the card management device 40 clears the number of possessed balls to zero.

Next, the appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20. As shown in FIG. In addition, although FIG. 3 illustrates the inter-machine card processing machine 10 for accepting only bills, a unit for accepting coins can also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has a status display section 11, a bill insertion slot 12a, a display operation section 13, a display operation section 22, a card insertion slot 14a, and a holding section 14b.

The status display unit 11 displays the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by lighting or blinking a lamp of a predetermined color. The banknote insertion slot 12a is an insertion slot for various banknotes necessary for lending game balls. The display operation unit 13 is a device that displays operation buttons such as a touch panel type liquid crystal display and receives an input operation using the operation buttons.

The card insertion slot 14a is an insertion slot for a card owned by a player. The holding portion 14b is a portion where the mobile terminal used for member registration is held up. When the mobile terminal is held over the holding portion 14b, data such as the unique ID (for example, IDm) of the mobile terminal is read from the mobile terminal.

The display operation unit 22 is a display device such as a touch panel display, and is located on the front surface of the gaming machine 20. Input/output control of the display operation unit 22 is performed by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG. The display operation unit 22 is used to display various information such as the balance of balls in hand, and to accept various operations such as display switching operations.

The game machine 20 is provided with a game board surface, a handle 21 used when the enclosed game balls are thrown onto the game board surface, and a counting button 23. - 特許庁

The counting button 23 subtracts the number of possible games of the gaming machine 20 and adds the corresponding number to the balls possessed by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, thereby managing the number of balls that can be thrown out from the gaming machine 20 to the machine. This is an operation button for performing management transfer to transfer to the card processing machine 10 . This management shift corresponds to a counting process in which the inter-machine card processing machine 10 counts the put-out game balls and adds them to the owned balls in an open-type game machine where actual game balls are put out by winning a prize.

Next, the configurations of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 includes a banknote transport section 12, a display operation section 13, a reader/writer 14, a holding section 14b, a communication section 15, a game management section 18, and a storage section. 16 , a control unit 17 , and a display operation unit 22 .

The banknote transport unit 12 is a transport unit that determines the denomination and authenticity of a banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 12a and transports the banknote to a banknote storage unit (not shown). The display operation unit 13 is an input/output device such as a touch panel liquid crystal display that displays various information such as the prepaid value that can be used for ball lending, the number of owned balls, the number of stored balls, etc., and accepts various operations such as ball lending operations. is.

The reader/writer 14 is a device for reading a card ID from a card inserted into the card slot 14a. A card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a passes through the reader/writer 14 and is stored in a card storage section (not shown). The holding unit 14b is an interface unit that reads various types of information such as a unique ID (for example, IDm) of the mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication when the mobile terminal or the like is held up, and is associated with the mobile terminal possessed by the player. It is used for replaying the accumulated number of balls. In addition, the reader/writer 14 has a function of associating the card stored in the card storage section with the value such as the ball and prepaid value shown in the card data 16b and issuing a new card in response to the player's return operation. also have However, if the prepaid value indicated in the card data 16b is 0 and the number of balls in possession is less than a fixed number, the card is controlled not to be returned even if there is a return operation. This is a control for preventing the gaming parlor from losing money due to discarding a card associated with a small amount of balls. As the fixed number, for example, it is possible to set the value obtained by multiplying the number of balls in possession by the rental unit price per ball to be the value of the card or the lowest price prize in the amusement arcade, but this is not limitative. It can be freely set according to the policy of the store. In addition, when controlling so as not to return the card even if there is a return operation, the stored balls can be transmitted to the gaming machine 20 as the number of playable balls, but the card cannot be returned and the number of balls held is not returned. A display prompting replay may be made.

Communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication with card management device 40 or the like via island controller 30 .

The storage unit 16 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a non-volatile memory. The storage unit 16 stores self-device status data 16a, card data 16b, recovery data 16c, and erasure data 16d.

The own device state data 16a is data indicating the state of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG. The device status data 16a includes the device ID of the inter-machine card processing machine and game settings. The device ID of the inter-machine card processor is identification data for uniquely identifying the inter-machine card processor 10 within the amusement arcade. The game settings are data indicating game types and the like set in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . When handling game balls with multiple rates in the amusement arcade, "Ball 1" for game balls with a rate of 4 yen, "Ball 2" for game balls with a rate of 2 yen, and "Ball 3" for game balls with a rate of 1 yen. A game type name is set and managed for each rate, such as "ball 4" for a game ball with a rate of 0.5 yen. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 selects a rate to be used for a game from these game types and stores it as a game setting.

The card data 16b is data relating to the card being used by the player. The card data 16b includes a card ID, a prepaid value, owned balls, accumulated balls, the number of accumulated balls that can be replayed, and the like. The card ID is the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 . When a card is transported from a card storage unit (not shown) to the card insertion slot 14a and ejected, the card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 during transport. Also, when the card is conveyed from the card insertion slot 14a to a card storage section (not shown), the card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 during this conveyance.

The collected data 16c is data for managing collected balls. The collection data 16c includes the date and time of collection, the number of collected balls, the card ID, and the clerk ID. The erasure data 16d is data for managing the cleared number of possible games as an erasure ball when the clearing of the number of possible games in the gaming machine 20 is detected. The erase data 16d includes the date and time of erasure, the number of balls to be erased, and the card ID.

The game management unit 18 is a processing unit that performs processing related to authentication and communication with the gaming machine 20 . It is desirable that the game management section 18 be formed on a board different from that of the control section 17 . The game management unit 18 has an authentication processing unit 18a, an authentication key management unit 18b, and a gaming machine state management unit 18c.

The authentication processing unit 18 a authenticates the gaming machine 20 using the authentication key received from the card management device 40 . The authentication processing unit 18a transmits operation permission to the gaming machine 20 when the authentication is successful. Even if authentication fails, the authentication processing unit 18a transmits operation permission to the gaming machine 20 within a predetermined period of time since the last successful authentication. does not transmit an operation permission to the game machine 20 and prohibits the use of the game machine 20. - 特許庁The authentication processing unit 18a transmits authentication results, such as success or failure of authentication, to the card management device 40, and controls display on the display operation unit 13 as appropriate.

The authentication key management unit 18b is a processing unit that manages authentication keys. A usage time is set for the authentication key, and the authentication key becomes unusable when the cumulative operation time of the gaming machine 20 reaches the usage time of the authentication key. Specifically, the authentication key management unit 18b manages the usage time of the authentication key by using the power-on time of the board on which the game management unit 18 is formed as the operating time of the gaming machine 20 . When the authentication key becomes unusable, the authentication key management unit 18b acquires a new authentication key from the authentication key management center via the card management device 40, and updates the authentication key.

The gaming machine state management unit 18 c is a processing unit that communicates with the gaming machine 20 and manages the state of the gaming machine 20 . Specifically, the gaming machine state management unit 18c acquires the gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20, transmits a request for addition to the number of possible games by lending balls, and increases the number of possible games from the number of balls by replaying the balls. Transmission of a request for transition to management, transmission of a request to add to the number of playable balls by replaying stored balls, reception of game results such as the number of balls driven and the number of winning balls in the gaming machine 20, and conversion from the number of playable balls to the number of balls held by counting Receives a management transfer request. In addition, the gaming machine state management unit 18c periodically acquires the number of possible games of the gaming machine 20 as a reference value. The number of possible games acquired by the gaming machine state management unit 18c can be controlled to be displayed on the display operation unit 13 or the like. The communication between the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the game machine 20 may use encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method.

The gaming machine state management unit 18c may further acquire the current playable number of the gaming machine 20, the state set for the game such as “jackpot”, and the operating state of the handle 21. FIG. The time interval at which the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the status of the gaming machine 20 is preferably set shorter than the interval at which the gaming machine 20 shoots (uses) game balls.

The control unit 17 is a control unit that controls the entire inter-machine card processing machine 10, and has a data management unit 17a, a game setting processing unit 17b, a restriction processing unit 17c, a collection processing unit 17d, and a deleted ball number management unit 17e. .

When the card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits card insertion notification data including the device ID of the own device status data 16a and the card ID of the card data 16b to the card management device 40. FIG. Further, when the data management unit 17a receives data including a value (at least one of the prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls) from the card management device 40, the data management unit 17a updates the card data 16b with the received value. . The data management unit 17a appropriately controls the display operation unit 13 to display the prepaid value, the number of owned balls, and the number of stored balls indicated in the card data 16b.

Further, when a banknote is inserted into the banknote insertion slot 12a, the data management unit 17a transmits payment notification data including the amount of the inserted banknote, the card ID, and the inter-machine card processing machine ID to the card management device 40 .

Further, the data management unit 17a transmits ball lending request data including the card ID and the device ID to the card management device 40 when the player performs the ball lending operation. When the ball lending permission data is received as a response to the ball lending request data, the data management section 17a instructs the game management section 18 to add a predetermined number of balls to the number of possible games of the gaming machine 20. to process the payment.

Further, the data management unit 17a subtracts a predetermined number from the number of balls held indicated in the card data 16b when the player performs a replay operation of the balls held by the player, Payout processing is performed by instructing the game management unit 18 to add the number to the possible number.

Further, when the possible number of accumulated balls replay indicated in the card data 16b is 1 or more, the data management unit 17a displays a accumulated balls replay button on the display operation unit 13, and can accept the accumulated balls replay operation. and The data management unit 17a transmits accumulated ball replay request data including the card ID and the inter-machine card processing machine ID to the member management device 50 when the player performs the accumulated ball replay operation. When the accumulated ball replay data is received as a response to the accumulated ball replay request data, the number of accumulated balls in the card data 16b is updated, and the number of payout units for the accumulated ball replay is added to the number of possible games of the gaming machine 20. Payout processing is performed by instructing the management unit 18 . At the time of the first accumulated ball replay operation, the input of the personal identification number is requested, and the accumulated ball replay request data is transmitted on the condition that the personal identification number matches the personal identification number indicated in the card data 16b.

Further, when the game management unit 18 receives a transfer request for game balls from the game machine 20, the data management unit 17a adds the number of balls instructed by the game management unit 18 to the balls in the card data 16b. Update.

Further, when the player performs a card return operation, the data management unit 17a transmits to the card management device 40 ball-in-hand addition request data including the card ID, the device ID, and the number of balls-in-hand, and collects the card data 16b. After clearing the number of possessed balls to zero, the card ejection notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40, and the card is ejected.

In this way, the data management unit 17a has a function as value management means for managing values related to game media, and a function as an associating means for associating values with predetermined storage media and returning them.

The game setting processing unit 17b displays the rate corresponding to the current game type set in the game setting of the own device state data 16a on the display operation unit 13 or the display operation unit 22, and allows the player to select a rate. If the setting is made to accept the rate, selectable rates are displayed on the display operation section 13 or the display operation section 22 . When the player selects a desired rate, the game setting processing section 17b updates the game setting of the own device state data 16a according to the game type corresponding to the selected rate. On the other hand, if the player is not set to accept rate selection, selectable rates are not displayed during the game. In this case, selectable rates are displayed on the condition that the remote control operation or the like by the employee is accepted and authenticated. When the employee selects a rate, the game setting processing section 17b updates the game setting of the own device state data 16a with the game type corresponding to the selected rate. Further, in this case, when there is a signal instructing the selection of a game type from a higher-level device such as the card management device 40, the own device status data 16a is displayed according to the instructed game type without displaying the selectable rates. update the game settings.

The restriction processing unit 17c is a processing unit that restricts card return based on the number of balls held and the number of possible games. Specifically, the restriction processing unit 17c restricts card return when the sum of the number of balls held and the number of possible games is equal to or less than a predetermined restriction threshold.

The collection processing unit 17d is a processing unit that cancels the card return restriction and collects the value. When the number of possible games exceeds a predetermined threshold value (for example, 0), the collection processing unit 17d prompts a counting operation to transfer the number of possible games to the balls possessed, and the number of possible games becomes equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value by counting. In that case, move the possession ball to the recovery ball.

The collection processing unit 17d receives a collection operation from a game clerk and starts collection. As the collection operation, the reading of the collection card, the input to the clerk's terminal device, and the like can be used. The collection processing unit 17d registers the collected balls as collected balls in the collection data 16c, and clears the balls in the card data 16b. In addition, the collection processing unit 17d transmits the collected balls to the card management device 40, which is a host device. In addition, when the recovery card is accepted, the recovery ball may be returned in association with the recovery card. The collection data 16c can be used for browsing and payout of collected balls.

The erased ball number management unit 17e monitors the number of possible games of the gaming machine 20, and when the game clerk clears the number of possible games in the gaming machine 20, the cleared number of possible games is treated as an erased ball and deleted data. 16d and clear the number of possible games of the own device. In addition, the erased ball number management unit 17e transmits the erased ball number to the card management device 40, which is a host device. The erased data 16d can be used for browsing and payout of erased balls.

Next, the internal configuration of the gaming machine 20 will be described. The gaming machine 20 has a communication control section 24 , an effect control section 25 , a game control section 26 and a game ball control section 27 . The communication control unit 24 is a control unit for controlling data communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . The communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 may use encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method.

When the game machine 20 is activated, the communication control unit 24 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the game control unit 26 and/or the game ball control unit 27, checks whether the identification information is appropriate, and if appropriate, , establish communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and enter a standby state. In the standby state, if an operation permission is received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the effect control section 25, the game control section 26 and the game ball control section 27 are activated to make the game ready.

The game control unit 26 is a control unit that controls games by the gaming machine 20 . Specifically, the game control unit 26 controls the shooting of game balls to the game board surface by detecting the handle operation, detects game balls that have entered the winning opening on the game board surface, and random numbers (from 0 to Acquisition and lottery (special symbols and normal symbols), movable members provided on the game board (tulips, etc.) ), display control of the special symbol display device provided on the game board, detection of abnormalities that may be fraudulent (front frame is open, vibration is detected, etc.) and notification to the host device.

A large number of obstacle nails are planted on the game board surface, and a game ball launched onto the game board surface by operating the handle falls between the obstacle nails and enters the winning opening and the starting opening or does not win. It is discharged out of the game board surface from the out port of the game board surface. A lottery is performed when a game ball enters a starting hole, and when a big win is achieved, a big win game is performed in which a predetermined winning hole on the game board surface is controlled to be opened multiple times, and the game balls enter the winning hole. prize balls are given to the players by facilitating the

Also, the big win includes a big win game with a privilege in which a predetermined privilege game is given to the player after the big win game is finished. The bonus jackpot game includes a probability variable jackpot and a time-saving jackpot. The probability variation jackpot and the time reduction jackpot are respectively provided with the probability variation game and the time reduction game as privilege games after the jackpot. The time-saving game is the fluctuation time of the normal pattern lottery (opening and closing lottery of the movable members described above) and / or the special pattern lottery (big hit lottery by winning the game ball described above) (from the start of the lottery process to the display of the results Time) is shortened to increase the number of lotteries per unit time, thereby increasing the probability of winning a jackpot per unit time. This privilege game may include a normal symbol probability variation that increases the probability of winning a normal symbol. The time-saving game by the time-saving jackpot is terminated when the special pattern lottery is performed a predetermined number of times after the jackpot. The probability variation game will be described later.

The game control unit 26 has a probability variation function. The probability variation function changes the random number range of the big win to be used for the next lottery when the lottery result falls within a particularly defined random number range among the big wins (generally increases it to about 10 times). It is a function. The probability variation game is to perform a special symbol lottery using the probability after this change. The probability variation game is continued until the next big win is won. Moreover, you may provide a probability variation game and a time-saving game simultaneously. However, in order to prevent unexpected damage to the amusement arcade, if a player acquires a certain amount of game media after the start of a variable probability game or a time-saving game, the game will be stopped (the card will be ejected once, and the prize will be exchanged or the machine will be requested to move). ) processing. In this case, the game machine 20 counts the number of acquired game media after entering the probability variable game state, and when the count reaches a predetermined value, game stop control such as stopping the shooting of game balls is performed. It can be realized by

The performance control unit 25 is a control unit that controls the performance during the game, and has a performance symbol lottery unit 25a and a performance lottery unit 25b. The performance symbol lottery unit 25a draws lots of performance symbols (symbols displayed on a performance symbol display device such as a display device in the game board surface) based on the special symbol lottery in the game control unit 26 (specifically, the display is finally displayed. whether to stop at 7, 7, 7, etc.).

The performance lottery part 25b performs a lottery for the type of performance to be performed before the lottery result of the performance pattern is displayed (e.g., a ready-to-win performance with a character appearing). Such an effect is set so that the effect selected for the main lottery result is different.

The performance control unit 25 stores performance data for each performance. Furthermore, the effect control unit 25 controls the display of the effect pattern display device, and when the effect is executed, the effect display is performed by superimposing the effect data on the background pattern data. Also, when the probability fluctuates, background color data different from that in the normal state is set.

The game ball control unit 27 is a control unit that controls the number of possible games. Specifically, the number of possible games is stored in the number of possible games memory 27a, the number of possible games is decremented by "1" each time a game ball is shot, and the number of prize balls provided by winning is added to the number of possible games. . Further, when the number of balls is notified from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the notified number of balls is added to the number of possible games stored in the possible game number memory 27a, and A confirmation signal is sent to indicate that the number has been added to the playable number. The game ball control unit 27 can also perform cleaning control of game balls (circulating balls) enclosed in the gaming machine 20 .

In addition, the game ball control unit 27 periodically transmits the possible game number stored in the possible game number memory 27a to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . In this case, the game ball control unit 27 does not clear the contents of the possible game number memory 27a to zero, and while continuing to update the possible game number according to the game state, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives the data at the time of data acquisition. Sends the number of games that can be played.

The gaming machine 20 is also provided with a counting button 23 , and a signal indicating that the counting button 23 has been pressed is input to the game ball control section 27 . The game ball control unit 27 detects the pressing operation of the count button 23, and if the detection signal rises to falls within a certain time, the number of possible games is increased by a certain number (for example, 100 balls per operation). data and a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . Then, the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is subtracted (invalidated) from the playable number. Further, when the operation of pressing the count button 23 is detected, and the fall of the detection signal is not detected for a predetermined period of time after the rise of the detection signal, a certain number (for example, every 5 seconds 200 balls), and a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Then, the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is subtracted (invalidated) from the playable number. When subtracting from the playable number, the value to be subtracted is decremented from the value of 1 stored in the memory, or the value stored in the memory is updated with the value after subtraction, and the value before subtraction is deleted or logically. A method of deleting and invalidating is conceivable, but there is no particular limitation as long as the value after subtraction can be specified.

The game control unit 26 and the game ball control unit 27 are configured on separate substrates. The game control board on which the game control section 26 is configured and the game ball control board on which the game ball control section 27 is configured each have a unique ID. The game machine 20 combines the ID of the game control board and the ID of the game ball control board and uses it as a game machine ID.

Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 16 of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 will be described. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit 16 of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG.

The own device state data 16a shown in FIG. 5(a) indicates a state in which the device ID of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "3001" and "ball 3" is set as the game type of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. showing.

The card data 16b shown in FIG. 5(b) indicates that the ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "2002". Here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, a card with the first digit "1" is a general card, and a card with the first digit "2" is a membership card. Also, the card data 16b indicates a state where the prepaid value is "2000 points". Here, one degree of the prepaid value is equivalent to 1 yen. Further, in the card data 16b, the number of balls held by ball 1 is "0 balls", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "0 balls", the number of balls held by ball 3 is "875 balls", and the number of balls held by ball 4 is "875 balls". It shows the state of "500 balls".

Further, the card data 16b indicates that the personal identification number for replaying accumulated balls is "7777", the number of possible replays of accumulated balls is "1", the number of accumulated balls for ball 1 is "250 balls", and the number of accumulated balls for ball 2 is "250". The number of stored balls is "0", the number of stored balls of ball 3 is "50", and the number of stored balls of ball 4 is "0". Although not shown, the card management device 40 also stores ON/OFF of a "lock" flag indicating validity/invalidity of the card in addition to the balls held, stored balls, and prepaid value in association with the card ID. , is turned ON by an employee's operation when the theft of the card is detected. These data are also included in the card data 16b and stored. Furthermore, this "lock" flag can be set for each function ("use of accumulated balls", "boarding", etc.). , can also be used to prevent erroneous operations.

The collected data 16c shown in FIG. 6C is data in which the date and time of collection, the number of collected balls, the card ID and the clerk ID are associated with each other. FIG. 6(c) shows a state in which the date and time "2019/09/01 15:30", the number of collected balls "30", the card ID "1022", and the clerk ID "T034" are associated. The card ID is the card ID associated with the collected balls, and the clerk ID is the identification information of the game clerk who collected the balls.

The erasure data 16d shown in FIG. 6(d) is data that associates erasure date and time, the number of erasure balls, and a card ID. FIG. 6D shows a state in which the date and time "2019/09/01 16:00", the number of erased balls "72", and the card ID "1050" are associated. The card ID is the card ID used at the time of erasure.

Next, the configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of card management device 40 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7 , the card management device 40 has a display section 41 , an input section 42 , an external network communication section 43 , a store network communication section 44 , a storage section 45 and a control section 46 .

The display unit 41 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The input unit 42 is an input device such as a keyboard and mouse. The external network communication unit 43 is an interface unit for data communication via a network outside the amusement arcade. The store network communication unit 44 is an interface unit for data communication with the island controller 30, the member management device 50, the prize management device 60, and the payment machine 80 via the communication line inside the amusement arcade.

The storage unit 45 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a non-volatile memory, and stores game type setting data 45a, card management data 45b, device management data 45c, collection data 45d and erasure data 45e.

The game type setting data 45a is data in which the lending rate and the display name are associated with the game type. The card management data 45b is data that associates the prepaid value, the number of balls for each game type, and the device ID of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 into which the card is inserted with the card ID. be. The device management data 45c is data relating to the devices arranged in the amusement arcade. The device management data 45c includes the device ID of the inter-machine card processor, the address of the inter-machine card processor 10, the installation location, the gaming machine ID of the installed gaming machine, and model data. The collected data 45d is data for registering and managing the collected balls notified from the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG. The erased data 45e is data for registering and managing erased balls notified from the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG.

The control unit 46 is a control unit that controls the entire card management device 40, and has a game type setting management unit 46a, a card management unit 46b, a device management unit 46c, a collected ball management unit 46d, and an erased ball management unit 46e. In practice, programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a ROM or non-volatile memory (not shown), and these programs are loaded into a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executed. 46a, the card management unit 46b, the device management unit 46c, the collected ball management unit 46d, and the erased ball management unit 46e are caused to execute corresponding processes.

The game type setting management unit 46a is a processing unit that associates game types used in the game parlor, rates, and display names, and manages them as game type setting data 45a.

The card management unit 46b is a processing unit that manages the card management data 45b. Specifically, when the card management unit 46b receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b replaces the card ID shown in the card insertion notification data with the card insertion notification data. Assume that the device ID is indicated in the data. In addition, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is notified of the prepaid value associated with the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data and the number of balls at each rate as value data. If the inserted card is a membership card, it transmits card insertion notification data to the membership management device. When receiving the ball-in-hand subtraction request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b clears the number of balls-in-hand at the rate indicated in the ball-in-hand subtraction request data to zero.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the ball lending request data including the card ID from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it determines whether or not the prepaid value associated with the card ID is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. . When the prepaid value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the card management unit 46b subtracts the predetermined value from the prepaid value stored in the card management data 45b, and stores the updated prepaid value in the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Send ball lending permission data. On the other hand, when the prepaid value is less than the predetermined value, the card management unit 46b notifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 of ball lending prohibition data.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives payment notification data including the amount of money inserted from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card ID, and the device ID, the card management unit 46b receives payment notification for the prepaid value associated with the card ID. Add the prepaid value for the amount shown in .

When the card management unit 46b receives the accumulated ball replay request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b transfers the accumulated ball replay request data to the member management device 50. FIG. In addition, the response data from the member management device 50 to the stored ball replay request data is also transferred to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 .

Further, when receiving the ball addition request data, the card management unit 46b adds the number of balls included in the ball addition request data to the number of balls of the corresponding rate. Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the card ejection notification data, the card management unit 46b deletes the destination device ID of the card ID.

Further, when the card ID is received from the prize management device 60, the card management unit 46b notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls for each rate associated with this card ID. Further, when the card ID is received from the payment machine 80, the card management unit 46b notifies the payment machine 80 of the prepaid value associated with this card ID.

The device management unit 46c is a processing unit that manages the device management data 45c. The device management unit 46c generates and updates the device management data 45c based on the device ID acquired from the inter-machine card processor 10, the address of the inter-machine card processor 10, the installation location, and the gaming machine ID.

When the collected ball management unit 46d receives data about the collected balls from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the collected ball management unit 46d manages the collected balls by registering the data in the collected ball data 45d. The collected data 45d can be used for viewing and paying out collected balls.

When the erased ball management unit 46e receives data about the erased ball from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it manages the erased ball by registering it in the erased ball data 45e. The erasure data 45e can be used for viewing and paying out erasure balls.

Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 45 of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit 45 of the card management device 40. FIG.

The game type setting data 45a shown in FIG. 8A associates the game type name "ball 1" with the rate "4 yen" and the display name "4 pachi". The game type setting data 45a associates the game type name "ball 2" with the rate "2 yen" and the display name "2 pachi". The game type setting data 45a associates the game type name "ball 3" with the rate "1 yen" and the display name "1 pachi".

In the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 8(b), the card ID "1001" has a prepaid value of "2500", the number of balls held by ball 1 is "1500", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "2300", and the number of balls held by ball 3 is "2300". is associated with the number of possession balls "0". That is, the card with the card ID "1001" is not inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the card management device 40 manages the balls in hand.

In the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 8(b), the card ID "1002" is associated with the prepaid value "500", the number of balls at each rate "0", and the device ID "3004". That is, the card with the card ID "1002" is inserted into the inter-machine card processor 10 with the device ID "3004", and the management of the number of balls held is transferred to the inter-machine card processor 10. FIG. Therefore, the number of balls at each rate is zero.

In the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 8(b), the card ID "2002" is associated with the prepaid value "2000", the number of balls held at each rate "0", and the destination device ID "3001". That is, the card with the card ID "2002" is inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with the device ID "3001", and the management of the ball is transferred to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG. Therefore, the number of balls at each rate is zero.

In the device management data 45c shown in FIG. 8(c), the address on the network of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with the ID "3001" is "AB.CD.EF.GH" and the installation location is "Island 1-1. ”, the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is “P001”, the game type is “BALL 3”, and the model of the connected gaming machine 20 is “EV01”. It also indicates that this gaming machine 20 is in use.

The collection data 45d shown in FIG. 9A is data in which the date and time of collection, the device ID, the number of collected balls, the card ID, and the store clerk ID are associated with each other. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the date and time "2019/09/01 15:30", the device ID "3001", the number of collected balls "30", the card ID "1022", and the clerk ID "T034" are associated. there is The card ID is the card ID associated with the collected balls, and the clerk ID is the identification information of the game clerk who collected the balls. The device ID is identification information of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has notified of the collected ball.

The erasing data 45e shown in FIG. 9B is data in which erasing date and time, device ID, number of balls to be erased, and card ID are associated with each other. FIG. 9B shows a state in which the date and time “2019/09/01 16:00”, the device ID “3001”, the number of collected balls “72”, and the card ID “1050” are associated. The card ID is the card ID used at the time of erasure. Further, the device ID is identification information of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has notified the erase ball.

Next, a processing procedure of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 for collected balls. First, the gaming machine state management unit 18c of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 acquires the number of possible games from the gaming machine 20 (step S101).

The restriction processing unit 17c determines whether or not the sum of the balls held and the number of possible games is greater than 0 and less than the threshold (step S102). Then, if the sum of the number of balls held and the number of possible games is 0 or is above the threshold value (step S102; No), the process is finished as it is.

If the sum of the number of balls held and the number of possible games is greater than 0 and less than the threshold (step S102; Yes), the restriction processing unit 17c restricts card return (step S103). Thereafter, when receiving a recovery operation by the game clerk (step S104), the recovery processing unit 17d determines whether the number of possible games is 0 (step S105).

If the number of possible games is not 0 (step S105; No), the recovery processing unit 17d requests a counting operation to transfer the number of possible games to the balls (step S106). Then, a counting operation is received and counting is performed (step S107), and the process proceeds to step S105.

If the playable number is 0 (step S105; Yes), the recovery processing unit 17d registers the ball as a recovered ball in the recovery data 16c (step S108), and clears the ball in the card data 16b (step S109). ). In addition, the recovery processing unit 17d transmits the recovered ball to the card management device 40, which is a host device (step S110), and ends the processing.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 for erasing balls. First, the gaming machine state management unit 18c of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 acquires the number of possible games from the gaming machine 20 (step S201).

The number-of-deleted-balls management unit 17e monitors changes in the number of possible games, and determines whether or not the number of possible games has been cleared by the game clerk in the gaming machine 20 (step S202). As a result, if the number of possible games has not been cleared by the game clerk at the gaming machine 20 (step S202: No), the process ends.

If the playable number has been cleared by the game clerk in the gaming machine 20 (step S202: Yes), the erased ball number management unit 17e registers the playable number before clearing as an erased ball in the erased data 16d. (Step S203), Clear the number of possible games of the own device (Step S204). Further, the erased ball number management unit 17e transmits the erased ball number to the card management device 40, which is a host device (step S205), and ends the process.

Next, the calling of the game clerk will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of calling a game clerk. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a notification from the gaming machine 20 regarding the use of game balls in the gaming machine 20, that is, the occurrence of a bet. Then, when the number of possible games or the number of balls remaining remains, and no beating occurs for a predetermined time, a game clerk is called.

Specifically, if the number of possible games remains, regardless of the presence or absence of balls, the status display unit 11 blinks in red, and the notification to the prize management device 60 or the headset is used. Call a game clerk.

Also, if there is no playable number and there are balls remaining, the status display section 11 blinks in blue, and a game clerk is called by using a notification to the prize management device 60, a notification to the headset, or the like. .

In this way, by making the lighting state of the state display section 11 different depending on whether or not there is a playable number, the game clerk can confirm necessary work in advance, and work efficiency can be realized. It should be noted that, after calling the game clerk, if the work by the game clerk is not performed even after a certain period of time has passed, it may be configured such that the balls in possession are automatically collected.

Next, management of prize balls of the gaming machine 20 will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of prize ball management of the gaming machine 20. As shown in FIG. From the game machine 20 of the enclosed type, it is possible to receive notification of various information such as a ball to be driven and a prize. When receiving notification of prize balls from the game machine 20, if the state of the prize balls is received in addition to the number of prize balls, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can manage the prize balls for each state. .

In FIG. 13, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is notified of the number of prizes and the status of the prizes as "normal prizes" or "abnormal prizes". Therefore, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 separately calculates and manages the total of normal prizes and the total of abnormal prizes. Also, normal prizes and abnormal prizes are separately transmitted to the card management device 40, so that the card management device 40 can also distinguish between normal prizes and abnormal prizes and manage them.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of how to deal with forgetting to count. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 registers the number of playable games in the card management device 40 as the number of remaining playable balls in the card management device 40 when the card is returned while the game machine 20 still has the number of playable balls. At this time, the card ID and the device ID of the own device are associated with the counted ball. Further, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 prohibits acceptance of cards (other cards) other than the returned card.

When a card registered as a forgotten count is inserted into another inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 refers to the card ID to specify that the count has been forgotten, and the inserted card is inserted. A processing machine 10 informs the player of the forgetting to count. This notification is performed using the display operation unit 13, for example. Alternatively, the original inter-machine card processor 10 may be specified from the associated device ID, and which inter-machine card processor 10 has failed to count may be reported together.

In this way, by notifying the occurrence of forgetting to count, the player can return to the original inter-machine card processing machine 10 to count, and reception of other cards in the original inter-machine card processing machine 10 is prohibited. is canceled. In addition, for cards that have been forgotten to be counted, counting other than by the original inter-machine card processing machine 10 may be prohibited.

FIG. 14 shows a case in which a card whose count has been forgotten is inserted into another inter-machine card processing machine 10, but even if a card whose count has been forgotten is used in the payment machine 80 or the prize management device 60, the card whose count has been forgotten is notified. can do. Payment and exchange of prizes may be prohibited until the omission of counting is resolved.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is installed in association with the enclosed gaming machine 20, manages balls and the like as values related to game media, and controls the enclosed gaming machine 20. The return of value is restricted according to the number of games that can be played, which is the number of game machine management media managed by , and the value of balls held, etc., and when a predetermined operation is received, the restriction is released and the value is recovered. Therefore, by efficiently collecting the remaining balls and the number of possible games, the burden on the game clerk can be reduced, and convenience can be improved when using an enclosed game machine.

Further, when the number of gaming machine managed media exceeds a gaming machine management threshold value (for example, 0), the inter-machine card processing machine 10 prompts a counting operation to transfer the number of gaming machine managed media to a value, and is equal to or less than the gaming machine management threshold, the value can be collected.

In addition, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 limits the association when the sum of the value and the number of gaming machine management media is equal to or less than the limit threshold.

Further, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can return the storage medium for collection in association with the value when receiving the storage medium for collection.

Further, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can collect the value when receiving a collection operation via the terminal device for the game clerk.

In addition, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can manage collected values in an identifiable manner. In addition, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can transmit the collected value to a host device.

In the above-described embodiment, a detailed description of the form of the card, which is the medium associated with the number of game media, has been omitted, but such cards include magnetic cards, IC cards, and the like. In addition, although the "card" is used as an example for convenience of explanation, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a chip, a stick, a portable terminal, or the like is used other than such a card.

In addition, restrictions on use may be set for the card. For example, a card issued by inserting bills and a card issued for cashless payment can be used in different gaming machines.

Also, each configuration illustrated is a functional schematic, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution/integration of each device is not limited to the illustrated one, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed/integrated in arbitrary units according to various loads and usage conditions. Can be configured.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the machine, game system, and game machine detection method according to the present invention are suitable for improving convenience when using an enclosed game machine.

10 inter-machine card processing machine 11 status display unit 12 banknote transport unit 12a banknote insertion slot 13, 22 display operation unit 14 reader/writer 14a card insertion slot 14b holding unit 15 communication unit 16, 45 storage unit 16a own device status data 16b card data 16c, 45d collected data 16d, 45e erased data 17, 46 control unit 17a data management unit 17b game setting processing unit 17c restriction processing unit 17d collection processing unit 17e erased ball management unit 18 game management unit 18a authentication processing unit 18b authentication key management Part 18c Game machine state management part 20 Game machine 21 Handle 23 Count button 24 Communication control part 25 Effect control part 25a Effect symbol lottery part 25b Effect lottery part 26 Game control part 27 Game ball control part 27a Playable number memory 30 Island controller 40 Card management device 41 Display unit 42 Input unit 43 External network communication unit 44 Store network communication unit 45a Game type setting data 45b Card management data 45c Device management data 46a Game type setting management unit 46b Card management unit 46c Device management unit 46d Collected ball management Section 46e Elimination Ball Management Section 50 Membership Management Device 60 Prize Management Device 80 Payment Machine

Claims (5)

Each machine is installed in association with a gaming machine that performs a game using a game medium enclosed therein, and performs processing related to the game medium,
Owned game medium number management means for managing the number of owned game mediums that can be re-used in the game only on the same day, which has been acquired by the player through the game;
detection means for detecting a gaming machine in which the number of game media held does not change for a predetermined time;
and notification means for notifying a predetermined employee terminal of a response to the gaming machine detected by the detection means. A gaming system comprising: a gaming machine for playing a game using a game medium enclosed therein;
a playable number management means for managing a playable number used for a game by a player;
Acquisition means for acquiring the number of possible games;
detection means for detecting a gaming machine in which the number of possible games acquired by the acquisition means does not change for a predetermined time;
and notification means for notifying a predetermined employee terminal of a response to the gaming machine detected by the detection means. 3. The gaming system according to claim 2, wherein a display mode of a predetermined display unit is changed depending on whether or not the number of possible games acquired by said acquiring means is present. A gaming machine detection method in each machine that is installed in association with a gaming machine that performs a game using a game medium enclosed therein and that performs processing related to the game medium, comprising:
a possessed game medium number management step for managing the number of possessed game mediums which are obtained by the player through the game and which can be re-used in the game only on the same day;
a detection step of detecting a gaming machine in which the number of game media held does not change for a predetermined time;
and a notification step of notifying a predetermined employee terminal of a response to the gaming machine detected by the detection step. A game machine detection method in a game system having a game machine for playing a game using a game medium enclosed therein, and each machine installed in association with the game machine for performing processing related to the game medium. hand,
a playable number management step for managing the playable number used in games by players;
an obtaining step of obtaining the number of possible games;
a detection step of detecting a gaming machine in which the number of possible games obtained by the obtaining step does not change for a predetermined time;
and a notification step of notifying a predetermined employee terminal of a response to the gaming machine detected by the detection step.

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